Playing away from the puck will factor in getting Leafs back in playoffs

Scoring in bunches will take the potent Maple Leafs a long way in 2017-18.

But if there’s not yet a term for defending in bunches, coach Mike Babcock will likely coin one. Playing effectively away from the puck and retrieving it will factor in getting Toronto back in the playoffs and beyond, as much as Auston Matthews’ scoring or Frederik Andersen’s net worth.

Twelve-year NHL veteran forward Eric Fehr assessed that all quite succinctly when asked his observations of the team as training camp ends.

“We’re unbelievable,” Fehr gushed. “When we’re working and playing as a five-man unit the sky’s limit for this team. (But) you can see when we’re not working and we have breakdowns, things can spiral pretty quickly.

“So it’s important for our team to stay focused and make sure we are not getting ahead of ourselves, realizing that it’s the will that’s going to win it, not the skill.”

Case in point was winger Kaspari Kapanen’s work in Sunday’s final preseason tune-up against Detroit. Though it must frustrate the Finn to be in a game with most of the Bubble Boys on the roster, after his prominent role in playoffs last spring, he was a strong penalty killer, a checking presence the Leafs would need if he works his way back to fourth line right wing. There are plenty of good examples set by Zach Hyman and Connor Brown in that respect.

“Penalty killing is something I started last year and I feel I’m getting better at it,” said Kapanen, the former first-round pick of the Penguins. “There are some things I need to get better at on it, but there’s always the opportunity to score one when you’re on the ice. It’s a lot of fun.”

OCTOBER BLUES

The end of the exhibition schedule, in which Toronto’s record was 5-2-1 after Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to Detroit, meant reality for many Leafs of all stripes that management cuts have no room for sentiment.

“I came into camp knowing it would be Leafs or Marlies,” said Kapanen, who does not require waivers to be sent to the Marlies where others do. “But there’s no rush. I’m still young, I’m excited for the season. There’s always that (NHL) urge, but I’ll stay patient.”

This year’s No. 1 pick, Timothy Liljegren, could not hide his disappointment leaving the Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday that his first NHL adventure is over.

“I think at the start of rookie camp, the first game wasn’t that good,” said the creative Swedish defenceman. “It was better after every day. It’s good to be at this camp, around NHLers. You learn to make smart plays, don’t over-think.

“After a while, you adapt to the smaller surface and the game they play over here. It’s obviously more physical here than in Sweden. It’s just (remembering) to keep your head up and to stay on both feet.”

He has to go to the AHL or be returned to Sweden. Travis Dermott, meanwhile, ended with a late regulation goal Saturday, likely headed back to his second full season with the Marlies.

“I wanted to contribute somehow,” Dermott said. “I think this summer helped a lot (an early arrival for summer workouts) being around the Leaf guys. My camp went decent. I made more mistakes in the games than I wish I had. But I couldn’t take this camp as a negative. You learn something every time you were out with these guys.”

WILL POLAK BE BACK?

Roman Polak, looking at an uncertain future as his PTO ends, was relieved to make his preseason debut in the final game, for peace of mind if nothing else that his broken leg has healed.

“I was excited,” the 31-year-old defenceman said. “I didn’t play since April, so I was happy to play a little game with the boys. I was working hard during the summer and through the camp. I said I’d play when I feel good and we decided it would be the last game. Everything felt okay. I felt like myself out there.”

SLASH AND BURN

The eight exhibition games also gave Babcock’s team a chance to get used to the NHL crackdown on slashing and face-off violations.

“I don’t think the face-off thing is totally sorted yet, but it’s important we continue to call the slashing,” the coach said. “Basically it looks like anywhere within six inches of the hand. So it’s important to keep the stick on the puck. You can’t take penalties.”

Fehr has seen some rule enforcement come and go in his time.

“The face-offs are still touch and go,” he said. “It will be interesting to see what happens when the regular season starts. It’s a little bit tricky getting that figured out. There is so much on the line on a face-off.”

ZIZE MATTERS

Here’s wishing colleague Mike Zeisberger the best in his new position with nhl.com.

For the better part of two decades we were on the Leaf beat for the Toronto Sun and though there weren’t any Stanley Cups to cover, there were a lot of great stories along the way, from Bay St. to Stockholm. Mike covered a lot more than hockey in his time at the Sun, a contribution that helps make our sports section the best in Canada.

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